West Blue · Red Line Island.
The young Patrick Redfield, dressed in immaculate noble finery, sat alone on a seaside boulder, gazing longingly at the vast blue ocean.
He yearned for true freedom and companionship.
Just like Brook—a pure musician and dreamer.
Unfortunately, he was the son of an Earl.
Destined to live only among hypocritical socializing and scheming noble gatherings.
His father named him Patrick Redfield, hoping he would inherit this red island.
Redfield—red earth, red fields—he was fated to belong to Red Line Island.
He bore the entire weight of the island upon his shoulders.
If he had never awakened Innate Observation Haki, perhaps he would have followed his father's plan, grown up properly, and inherited everything of Red Line Island and the Barlorick Family.
But he had awakened the very Observation Haki that could see through people's hearts.
He even saw the ugly heart of that Earl father—his tangled affairs with countless noble ladies.
It made him feel sick and repulsed.
Even the daughters of viscounts and barons who sought to cling to him were wildly promiscuous behind the scenes.
Their feigned purity and innocence made Redfield feel even more nauseated.
Sometimes, Redfield truly hated this mind-reading ability.
He grew ever more alienated from others, increasingly solitary; he preferred to be alone.
Only Brook's pure music had ever given him a moment's relaxation and joy.
He suddenly regretted—perhaps he should have boarded the Rumbar Pirates' ship.
He no longer wanted to stay on this island!
Yet the duty tied to his name and bloodline always made him hesitate.
—Just as Redfield was about to end today's solitude, a warship flying the World Government flag sailed swiftly into Red Line Island's harbor.
A group of strangers in white and black suits rushed off the deck.
Their stern, icy faces carried a faint, chilling killing intent.
Before long, these formidable suited men respectfully welcomed a wildly arrogant woman.
"Mahahaha, am I the first to arrive?"
Saint Saturn Mars of the Gods Knights bared her fanged teeth in a loud laugh; like other Knights, she wore no bubble helmet like ordinary Celestial Dragons.
Horns sprouted from her head, dark shades covered her eyes, and a cigar clenched between her teeth.
She looked nothing like a Celestial Dragon—or even like a woman.
"Then the credit this time is mine!"
"Garling and Somaz, those bastards, won't steal the captain's seat from me!"
"After all these years, we must have a female captain!"
Mars grinned; behind her shades, her ambitious eyes concealed her dream of becoming the first female Gorosei.
Why, for centuries, had every Gorosei been a man?
Only by becoming a Gorosei could one gain true immortality and stay forever beside Lord Imu.
Becoming a Gorosei was the ultimate goal of every Celestial Dragons Knight.
And becoming Commander of the Gods Knights was the prerequisite candidacy.
Thus, each generation, when the Leader passed away, every Knight would scramble to complete missions.
All to earn Lord Imu's recognition and become the new Leader.
Only as Leader did one stand a chance to ascend to the Gorosei.
Provided, of course, that a Gorosei fell or was abandoned by Lord Imu.
Though becoming Leader did not guarantee immortality, refusing to strive meant no chance at all.
Lord Imu favored enterprising subordinates!
"Move out—seize the Barlorick Family!"
"What qualifies this island to share the name 'Red Line' with the Red Line Continent?"
Saturn Mars led CP0 Agents in white and CP Agents in black, marching mightily toward the island's Earl's mansion.
They would seize the Barlorick Family in the shortest time, replace the earldom, and uncover the clan's secrets.
Rocks had asked around about this family in Ohara—there had to be something hidden.
The CP Agents soon to impersonate the Barloricks needed to study their targets to fool the Rocks Pirates.
Not far away, Patrick Redfield, relying on his powerful Innate Observation Haki, overheard the strangers and his face changed drastically.
That terrifying woman was easily ten times stronger than any Rumbar pirate.
She even called herself "this palace"—a self-reference of Female Celestial Dragons.
"No good—they're going after Father!"
Redfield sprinted home; he didn't know why the family had provoked the Celestial Dragons and CP Agents.
But he knew it could not be anything good!
Could it be that hosting the Rumbar Pirates had been discovered by the World Government?
Had they come to arrest the Barlorick Family?
Inside the Earl's mansion of the Barlorick Family.
Mars needed to do nothing; Earl Barlorick was already on his knees, fawning over the Celestial Dragon.
"Mahahaha! Well done!"
"Now gather every member of your clan!"
Mars cast a wicked glance at the cowardly island Earl.
Since Rocks had taken an interest, the World Government would rather kill wrongly than let slip.
Once the CP Agents could convincingly play the Barloricks, the family would no longer need to exist.
"At once! Right away."
Earl Barlorick, unnerved by the Female Celestial Dragon's cryptic smile, ultimately dared not defy her order.
Those CP Agents clearly were not to be trifled with!
Resistance meant instant, ruthless slaughter.
He hastily assembled every family member and cadet branch.
Only Patrick Redfield failed to appear.
Anxious, the Earl was about to report his absence.
But the impatient Mars ordered her men to seize the gathered Barloricks.
Every member was interrogated one-on-one by CP Agents to learn their habits and secrets.
The sudden raid nearly scared the Earl to death—what crime warranted the personal descent of a Celestial Dragon and CP Agents?
When had the Barlorick Family ever merited such grand treatment?
Even Earl Barlorick was questioned personally by Mars, pressed for the family's unique secrets.
Rocks would never ask about a family without reason.
The Earl felt utterly wronged—what secret could they possibly have?
For a century or two the Barloricks had been model nobles on Red Line Island.
Under Mars's brutal interrogation, nothing was extracted.
Infuriated, Mars realized this was merely an ordinary noble house.
They possessed no famous heirloom blades, nor had any mighty warriors arisen.
She began to suspect the World Government had been duped by Rocks.
Had Rocks spread false rumors to waste their time and stir up trouble?